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“This is especially true of physically attractive women, who are often wary of straight men wanting more than a platonic relationship with them,” Russell added.

(Facebook/eric russell)

“However, when these women discover that they are interacting with gay men, this anxiety is greatly reduced in that the women no longer feel pressured to suppress their more open and involving interaction behaviours.

“With gay men, women can engage more openly and intimately with them because they do not have to worry about the men having an ulterior sexual motive.”

Russell said that the difference between these friendships and those between men and women who were both straight was noticeable.

He added: “Straight women and gay men likely see their friendships as safe spaces where they can have fun, be themselves, and engage in intimate conversations without fear of judgement, expectations, or one-sided sexual interest.

(Facebook/eric russell)

“This also implies that straight female-gay male friends can spend time together in ways that straight female-straight male friends may find awkward, such as going out to dance or watching a romantic comedy at home together.”

He said that this phenomenon may be one of the reasons for lower levels of homophobia among straight women than straight men.

Russell suggested that given “women feel more comfortable with gay men due to their lack of sexual intentions, could increased comfort serve as a prejudice-reduction mechanism for women who have less positive attitudes towards homosexual individuals?”